10 golfers to watch in 2013

With the 2013 season already underway, we take a look at some of the golfers who are poised to feature prominently next year. Here’s hoping the new season is as exciting as the last!

Si Woo Kim

Si Woo Kim made PGA Tour history in November by becoming the youngest player to earn a tour card through Q-School. The 17-year-old Korean won’t be able to take up full-time membership until he turns 18 in June, and will have to rely on invitations and Monday qualifying until then, but someone with such aptitude and mental strength at such an early age is an exciting addition to the top-tier professional game.

Bud Cauley

In 2011, Bud Cauley became only the seventh player to bypass Q-School and earn his tour card for the 2012 season, amassing $735,150 in just seven starts. This year, he recorded six top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour, earned almost $1,800,000 and was one of five nominees for the Rookie of the Year accolade. You get the impression that once Cauley wins his first tournament, many, many more will follow. If the American doesn’t win a major during his career, it’ll be considered a surprise.

Robert Karlsson

In July, Robert Karlsson withdrew from The Open Championship after suffering a dreaded case of the ‘yips’ during a practice round. He spent a month working with a sports psychologist, and struggled for any semblance of form after returning to competitive golf. Things started improving at the end of the season, though, and he came through two stages of Q-School to earn a 2013 PGA Tour card. With his troubles behind him, Karlsson could be in contention for the FedEx Cup come September.  

Seung-yul Noh

Korean Seung-yul Noh has a near-perfect golf swing, and I’d be surprised if he wasn’t inside the world’s top ten by the time he turns 23. He won on the European Tour in 2010 at the Maybank Malaysian Open, the second-youngest player to do so. In 2011, he entered PGA Tour Q-School (the second-youngest player in the field) and finished in a tie for third, qualifying at the first attempt. This season, he posted 13 top 25s in 28 starts, including three top 10s, and earned more than $1,600,000. A maiden PGA Tour victory is just around the corner for this talented youngster.   

Luke List

Luke List turned professional in 2007 after graduating from Vanderbilt University. He joined the Web.com Tour 2010, returning four top-ten finishes en route to finishing 38th on the Money List. This year, he won for the first time at the South Georgia Classic, and with three second-place finishes and six top-ten finishes, he ended the season in fourth position on the Money List. The American is an aggressive player who hits the ball an exceptional distance off the tee, and will be an exciting addition to the PGA Tour.

Luke Guthrie

Luke Guthrie turned many heads with his performances this year, and looks set to make quite an impression in 2013. Guthrie started playing on the Web.com Tour this season whilst still studying at the University of Illinois. In his first seven starts, he recorded four top-10 finishes and two wins at the Albertson Boise Open and WNB Golf Classic. He also played four events on the PGA Tour, finishing in the top 20 on three occasions. Guthrie has demonstrated outstanding pedigree and ability at an extremely early age, and it wouldn’t be at all surprising if he won in his first year on tour.

Paul Casey

Last Christmas, Paul Casey injured his shoulder in a snowboarding accident and missed three months of the season. He spent more time out after rushing his recovery, and endured a torrid few months upon his return. On the European Tour, between May and September, Casey only carded two rounds in the 60s. He found some form at the end of the season, however, recording four consecutive top 10s to narrowly miss out on qualifying for the season-ending DP World Tour Championship. He will be extremely determined to make up for lost time, especially with so many of his compatriots excelling on the world stage.

Kristoffer Broberg

Kristoffer Broberg, the 26-year-old Swede, is one of the most exciting prospects in world golf. He joined the Challenge Tour mid way through 2012 and won the Finnish Challenge in just his second start. He went on to win the next week at the Norwegian Challenge before a third victory in four weeks at the Rolex Trophy. As a result, he earned an instant promotion to European Tour, becoming the fastest player to achieve that feat. He also won the Crowne Plaza Copenhagen Challenge in October for good measure.

Espen Kofstad

Espen Kofstad only decided he wanted to be a professional golfer aged 20 when studying at the University of Denver, and it turned out to be an inspired decision. The Norwegian has been in excellent form this year, winning his first professional title at the Double Tree by Hilton Acaya Open and following it with triumph at the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final. His second victory propelled him to the top of the Challenge Tour Money List, and he put on a good showing at November’s SA Open, showing his proficiency for top-tier golf.

Henrik Stenson

Henrik Stenson won for the first time in three and a half years at the SA Open in November, and that victory should be the catalyst for a complete resurgence. Stenson has spent more than 100 weeks inside the world’s top ten, and his career-high ranking of fourth is the best by any Swedish golfer. In 2013, I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Stenson return to the form that saw him win the 2007 WGC-Accenture Matchplay and the 2009 Players Championship.